Construction work on the Phase-II of the Dongo Kundu bypass project in Kenya is gathering pace.
Dongo Kundu bypass project, also known as the Mombasa Southern Bypass will connect three main transport corridors, including the Mombasa-Nairobi highway, Mombasa-Malindi highway and the Mombasa- Lunga Lunga highway and is expected to minimize traffic gridlocks in Mombasa and its environs.
Phase-I of the Dongo Kundu bypass project completed and opened in 2018, runs from Mombasa Port’s second container terminal and joins the Mombasa-Nairobi highway at Bonje, near Mazeras.
The phase was done by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation at a cost of USD 110 million. Kenya acquired financing of the bypass through loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in 2014 with repayment option of up to 30 years at an interest rate of 1.2 percent.
Phase-II works on the project involves installation of two bridges one at Mteza and the other at Mwache spanning more than two kilometres and 680 mtr respectively. Comparing to other bridges, this one is bigger than Nyali (390 mtr) and Kilifi (420 mtr).
Mteza bridge length is seven times longer than that of Nyali and Kilifi, and it will reduce cost and time used to crossover to and from the South Coast. It will serve Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone and will boost trade and tourism.
China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation commenced the Phase-II in earnest in March 2020 against a backdrop of Covid-19 uncertainties. They have already covered 35 percent of the work, with additional construction machines currently being deployed on the site.